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Edmonton REALTORS® and AREA volunteers: Director Doug Singleton, Vice-President Charlie Ponde, Provincial Government Relations Committee Chair Jennifer Lucas with AREA CEO Ian Burns. Photo by Memories by ME Photography.

Harnessing the Power of a REALTOR®

AREA celebrates 70 years of helping Realtors guide consumers by Mario Toneguzzi

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uying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions anyone can undertake in their lifetime and REALTORS® are a critical and valuable part of the process.

Their knowledge and expertise along every step of the decisionmaking journey is important in ensuring the real estate experience is a good one for people. The Alberta Real Estate Association, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and represents 10,600 Realtors across the province, is helping Realtors remain at a top level of professionalism by continuing to raise the bar for them and advocating at a provincial level. “We know that the public thinks it’s important (to have a Realtor) because it’s the largest financial transaction that most people will ever undertake in their entire lives. But you’re also making an emotional decision. So, when you’re dealing with a massive financial decision and there’s emotion attached it’s important that you use a trusted professional,” says Ian Burns, AREA’s chief executive officer for the past three years. “Realtors have very specific expertise and knowledge. There’s a saying that real estate is local. I think that’s very true. If you want to know what’s going on in the market, you want to talk to a

CEO Ian Burns with 2017 AREA President Bob Jablonski in AREA offices. Photo by Tammy Hanratty Photography.

Realtor in your local area. They’re absolutely experts in what they do and they have the ability to help you through that transaction to save you money, to protect yourself.” And Albertans clearly believe it’s important to use a Realtor. AREA information shows that more than 90 per cent of Albertans surveyed say that if they are going to buy or sell a home they’re going to use a Realtor. If you ask, people have mixed views of Realtors on the whole, but they are overwhelmingly positive if you inquire about their most recent Realtor experience. Those numbers are stunning with

ALBERTA REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION • 70 YEARS

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